Our women are still not aware of their rights," says Sean Ali, a Toronto-based singer and director of an upcoming feature film on women's rights in emerging economies.
Ali who was visiting his parents in Dubai recently told XPRESS that although women comprised 51 per cent of the population in many countries of Asia and the Middle East, they remained largely suppressed and struggle to make their voices heard in a male-dominated society.
The 23-year-old said the film, which is also titled 51%, seeks to educate women about their basic right to a life of dignity and respect. "The movie is in the final stages of editing," he said, adding, "It should be released very soon."
Produced by Saman Hasnain, former Mrs Pakistan World, the film revolves around five women from diverse backgrounds who are bound by their own destinies, but come together in a realisation of their empowerment as women. From basic issues like education to being treated with dignity at home or at the workplace, women often have to struggle to get their due, said Ali, adding that women's organisations were helping to change perceptions.
Ali, who produced an award-winning documentary called Triumph of the Achievers in April last year, said this was his first feature film. The movie has been shot in India, Pakistan and San Francisco, USA, he said.
"When Saman Hasnain approached me with the idea two months ago, I readily agreed because I feel strongly about women's rights," he said, adding that he was raising much of the film's funding - an estimated $400,000 (Dh1.46 million).
Ali, who is of Pakistani, Indian and Iranian descent, is an acclaimed singer in the UK-Asia genre, with many hits under his belt. He has secured several international awards for his music.
